Package sealing



Feb. 1*, 1938.

L. E. VDAvuas PACKAGE SEALING .Filed oct. 25', 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 v Sha# N um 5 sheets-sheet '2 Daz/L' t Hf [l/gaaf.-

Feb. l, 1938. L. E.- DAvlEs 2,107,237

PACKAGE SEALING Filed loct. 25, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Feb. 1, 1938 -mirri-:D STATES PACKAGE SEALING Lynn E. luavies, Chicago,

Cap Company, Chicago,

Delaware lll., assignmto White Ill., a corporation of Appucatn october 25, 1935, seria; Ne. 46,681 v zs'claims. (ci. 22e-s2) This invention relates to the packaging of commodities, such as foods, in containers such as jars, cans, bottles, and the like, and'has to do particularly with apparatus and procedure for effecting the removal of air from within th .container and its closure incident to the application of the closure to the container preliminary to the sealing of the package. The present invention is in some respects an improvement on apparatus and method disclosed in U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,920,539, granted August 1, 1933 and No. 2,041,891, granted May 26, 1936 to William P. White, assignor to White Cap Company.

In the procedure described in the aforementioned patents, the containers, after being suitably .lled, are moved progressively with their open mouths enveloped in an-atmosphere of hot vapor, and in the course of such progressive movement, closure caps are applied to the mouths of the containers while they are in the hot vapor atmosphere, this being followed by the sealing of the closures on the container.` Incident to the progressive movement of the open mouth portion of the container in the hot Vapor atmosphere, air in the head space of the container is displaced by hot vapor, and air is likewise displaced from within the closure Acap incident to application of it to the container in the hot vapor atmosphere.

As a consequence, when the closure is sealed on' the container, the head space is occupied by hot vapor, and upon the cooling or condensation thereof, the pressure within the sealed container is reduced to a value less than atmospheric pressure. The differential between atmospheric pressure and that resulting within the sealed package is generally referred to in the industry as vacuum, and for purpose of convenience will be so designated herein.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of apparatus and method which may be utilized to accomplish the elimination of the greatest possible proportion of air from within the head space and closure in the procedure above described, thus to obtain the highest possible degree of vacuum in the sealed package.

Another object is the provision of apparatus and method which may be employed economically and effectively in commercial packaging and which will safeguard the packages against contamination and the deposit of moisture upon the contents of the containers and/or upon inner surfaces of the containers and the closuresin the course of the operations Another object is the provision of apparatus and method which will accomplish sterilization of the head space and of the closure and effectively displace airfrom within them without subjecting the contents of the containers to disturbance.

Yet another object is the provision of apparatus and method which will operate'eiectively to ac- 5 complish the. above stated objects incident to rapid handling of the containers and closures in the course of the operation.

Other and further objects will be pointed out or indicated hereinafter or will be apparent to one 10 skilled in the art upon an understanding of the present invention or its employment in practice.

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the invention, I show in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this speciiication and 15 hereinafter describe certain forms of apparatus inv which it may be embodied and practiced, but

it is to be understood that these are presented merely by way of illustration and are not to be construed in any fashion calculated to limit the 20 appended claims short of the true and most 'comprehensive scope of the invention in the art.

In said drawings,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional viewshowing various parts of a machine in which the present 25 invention may be embodied and practiced, the showing being more or less schematic and intended primarily for the purpose of illustrating' the relationship of various parts of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a 30 portio'n of the apparatus constituting subject' matter of thepresent. invention, said section being taken 'on -algiprroiimately line 2--2 of Figs. 3 and 4;

Fig. 3 is a cross' section on approximately line 35 Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional elevation on approximately line 4 4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a part end elevation partly in section on line 5-5 of Fig. 2, showing the cap-supporting 40 device.

The nature of the invention may be most quickly ascertained from a more orless detailed explanation of the apparatus illustrated in the drawings, which will now be described.

The sealing machine illustrated in Fig. 1 is of the general character shown and described in the aforementioned patents. The reference numeral i0 designates a conveyor in the nature of an endless belt adapted to support the containers, such as jars, bottles, or the like, which are set thereon in upright position, said conveyor being suitably driven to move it and the containers in the direc-` tion indicated by the arrow. Over a portion oi.' this conveyor is arranged a housing il which has 5 enter the passage at the end of the machine shown at the left hand in Fig. 1 and to travel progressively through the passage and out of its opposite end. In this passage at a substantial distance from the entrance end thereof, is'disposed a cap- 30 ating wall having a lower portion I1 and a higher portion I1', and a front wall I8, the upper portionof which is chambered at I9, said chamber communicating with the side wall chambers I6. The casing is closed at the top by a smooth in- At its front end the steam distributor is provided with a steam inlet 31, to which steam from a suitable source is supplied by way of a steam separator and a pressure-reducing valve, as indicated diagrammatically in Fig. l. It is desirable that the pressure at which the steam is supplied to the separator be as high as it is practicable to obtain, as from the plant boiler, and that the steam separator be effective to extract passage 30 through expanding passage 3|, the steam is further expanded and its pressure and velocity reduced, so that it issues continuously below the wall portion I1' with a gentle ilow. The change in direction given by the portion 29' l0 supporting device ,(designated generally by the free moisture from the steam. Through the pres- 10 reference numeral 9 in Fig. 1) and beyond this iS sure-reducing valve the steam is expanded and its a sealing mechanism which includes a 'belt I4 pressure reduced to a value of from one to three that is moved in the direction indicated by the pounds (gauge). As a result, the steam supplied arrow at a linear rate corresponding to the speed to the steamdistributor is dry, and, in fact,

of the conveyor. Operably mounted in the pas somewhat superheated at its then pressure, and lt 15 sage are lateral belts, one of which is shown at is not permitted to cool appreciably while it is in I3, which are transmitted in the direction and at the steam inlet passage 25, for the reason that a rate corresponding to those of the conveyor I9, said passage is substantially surrounded by hot said lateral belts serving to grasp the upper porsteam as hereinafter pointed out. Through apertions of the containers between them, whereby tures 26 and 21 chamber 2| and jacket chambers 20 definitely to maintain the containers in upright I6 and I9 'are kept lled with steam from steam position incident to the application of the closure inlet passage and at approximately the same caps. Supported on and forming a part of the pressure. housing ahead of the sealing belt I4, is the steam Steam passes from steam inlet passage 25 into 25 distributor which is illustrated in detail in Figs. 2 distributing passage 30 through the quite small 25 to 5 inclusive. 0 apertures 28, a substantial proportion of the pres- The steam distributor comprises a casing havsure being converted to Velocity, so that the presingvside walls I5and I5', the upper portions of sure in distributing passage 30 is lower than that which are chambered as shown at I6, a heat radiin inlet passage 25. Issuing from distributing section line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

of the nozzle member contributes to reduction 35 of its velocity, and likewise aids to throw out of suspension any globules of free moisture which may be carried. in the steam. The supplemental distributing passage 32 serves to provide an increased supply of steam at the rearward end of 4C 35 clined plate 20 to form a chamber 2|, and has `internal partitions 22 and 24 forming a longitudinal steam inlet passage 25 which communicates with the chamber 2| through an aperture 26 i .(Fig. 4) located approximately in the plane of An aperture 21 `munication with the chamber 2|.

places the jacket chambers I6 and I9 in com- The lower portion I1 of the heat radiating wall is approximately at, but the higher portion I1' is rearward end portion of the steam outlet passage 30. Supplemental steam outlet passage 32 is 1n communication with steaminlet passage 25 by way of an aperture 34, and it isin communica- 70 tionv with steam outlet passage 30 by way of a plurality of quite small apertures 35. The lower portion 29' of the nozzle member is provided with a plurality of diagonal ribs 36 directed inwardly and rearwardly below the lateral portion 0f the 75 bottom wall I1.

the nozzle member 29. \The steam which passes from inlet passage 25 through aperture 34 into supplemental distributing passage 32 proceeds through the small apertures 35 into the rear- This inclined plate 20 forms the bottom of a chute down whichv closure caps may slide to a position where they are supported with'in the tunnel-like passage by the cap-supporting device. As seen in Fig. 5, guide' rails 31 are positioned on the plate 2|) and are adjustable toward and from its median line for guiding cooperation -arched, as seen in Fig. 4,- and is somewhat Wider ward end of distributor passage 3II, its pressure 4: than the portion I1. being thereby reduced, this steam issuing through At a point somewhat above the lower limit expanding passage 3| at the rearward end of the of the chamber 25,H the wall I5 is provided with nozzle member. The ribs or vanes 36 function to small apertures 28, and upon the outer side of direct the issuing steam diagonally below the said wall is applied a nozzle member 29 which wall portionl I1', directing it somewhat toward 51 i has a longitudinal passage 30 into which said the outlet end of the housing, the freshly adapertures 28 lead. As shown in Figs. 4 and .5', the mitted steam flowing as a stratum, an inch and facing lower portions of the wall I5' and said a half or more in depth, below the wall portion nozzle memberV are shaped to form a down- I1 and being somewhat augmented in volume at .55 wardly expanding passage 3I, which communiand rearwardly adjacent the rearward terminus 5l cates with the passage 30 through a.' narrow slot. of the plate 20. Thus the portion of the housing The lower portion of the nozzle 29 is turned in-' II-I2 about the steam distributor is kept lled wardly and extended somewhat belowv the wall with hot steam which insulates the steam in inlet portion I1', as illustrated at 29',thus forming passage 25 and chamberZI against cooling and an inward continuation of the downwardly exmaintains the wall portions-I5 and I5 and the 6 panding passage 3|. The rearward portion of the portions I1 and` I1 at high temperature. The nozzle 29 extends somewhat beyond the rearward upper portion of chamber 2| is likewise insulated end of the wall portion I1', and it is also of someby the steam in jacket chamber I6, and the coverv what increased depth so as to afford space for a plate 20 is kept at high temperature by contact supplemental steam outlet passage 32 above the with the steam in passage 25and chamber 2|. 6

with closure caps'of different diameters. One of these guide rails carries at its lower end a stop detent 38 held yeldably in a position to arrest Cal the lowermost cap in a sloping position in which a portion of it projects a substantial distance beyond the lower terminus of plate 2|), said cap being supported at opposite sides on short wings 39 which lie flush with the surface of plate 20 and are carried on and project inwardly from the guide rails 31. These parts thus constitute the cap-supporting device, which is adapted to support a cap approximately infthe position indicated in dotted lines at C in Fig. 5. In such position ,the rearward portion of the skirt of-the cap depends in the path of the upper rim ofthe container which is being moved progressively by the conveyor. The approaching container is indicated at V in Figs. 1 and 4.

By reference to Figs. 1 and 4 it will be appreciated that as a container enters and moves progressively through the `tunnel-like passage, its mouth rim travels below the-heat radiating w'all portion I1. Hot steam within passage and chamber 2l maintains this wall portion I1 at a high temperature so that no condensation of moisture upon it can occur. Heatradiated from portion I1 is effective to heat the rim of the container and the air which is within the head space. As the container travels along under the wall portions I1 and I1', its mouth portion enters the gently and continuously owing stratum of freshly emitted hot dry vapor issuing from passage 3|. Progressve movement of the container produces a certain amount of turbulence over and about its mouth which aids in displacement of air from within the head space, and the displaced air is carried off in a lateral direction by the current of hot steam. The hot steam in chambers 2l and 25 maintains the portion I1 at a high temperature so that no condensation can occur on its lower surface. When the container contacts the depending skirt of the lowermost cap on the cap chute, the continued progressive movement of the container will draw that cap past the spring-pressed detent 38, and the cap will come to; rest upon the mouth of the container. This occurs in a location where the volume of emitted steam is augmented as above described. As a consequence of the procedure the head space of the container and the space within the closure cap thus applied to the container are substantially evacuated of air and lled with hot vapor. The container with the cap thereon then passes immediately under the sealing belt I4 and the cap is pressed down to seal the vessel hermetically. The holding-down pressure is maintained until the cap is sumciently cooled to produce some contraction of the trapped vapor, and thus produce negative pressure within the sealed package.

The closure caps which are to be thus applied to the'containers are placed upon the upper portion of the plate 20, and slide down the same by gravity, one iny contact withanother, and feed downwardly as they are withdrawn one by one from the lower end of the chute as above described. By virtue of their contact withthe heated plate 20, the caps are themselves heated, thusavoiding formation or effecting re-evaporation of any condensate from steam which may enter them While they are on the chute. As they reach the lower portion of the chute they enter the stratum of freshly emitted high temper- 2 ature steam which is cwing below them, with the result that the air is displaced from them and they are filled with the hot vapor. To expedite the heating'of the caps, the intermediate portion of the chute is housed by a cover 40,

which becomes filled with hot steam which passes up along the chute. This cover is preferably made with hollow walls, for insulating eect,`and is mounted so as to be swung to` a position away from the chute, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. i, i

From the foregoing it will be understood that all portions of the apparatus under which the containers pass before the closure caps are applied to them are maintained constantly at suillciently high temperatures to prevent any condensate from forming thereon and dropping into the containers, and that the caps are preheated for like purpose. Furthermore, it will be seen that the hot steam is supplied and flowedin such fashion as to contribute to the displacement of air from within the containers and the caps, and such as to carry away the displaced air, without subjecting the contents of the containers to disturbance and without drawing additional air into the vicinity of the containers mouths or of the closures in the course of application thereto. As a consequence, a very high degree of evacuation of the containers is obtained, under conditions which safeguard their contents against contamination and accomplish sterilization of the closures and the mouth portions of the containers.Y

It will be understood that in the heating-up of the steam distributor preliminary to a run, or after the steam has been turned off at the end of a run, condensation is likely to occur within the various chambers and passages. In order to dispose of the condensate so formed, small outlet passages 4I are provided at suitable low points, said passages opening at points safely removed from the path of the containers.

By virtue of the means and procedure above described it will be seen that the steam within the steam inlet passage 25 may be maintained in a superheated condition, and that by virtue of its expansion into steam distributing passage and through expanding passage 3|, it may be maintained in superheated condition so as to issue in that condition. This effectively plrecludes condensation of moisture within the container or cap while the container mouth is passing through the hot steam stratum and while the cap is being applied. This is because of the fact that, being superheated, it cannot itself carry any particles of free moisture, and has to be cooled suhlciently to lose its superheat before it will condense in contact with a relatively cooler surface such as the container or the cap. Because of the proximity of the hot surface I1' and the continuous supply of dry steam to and the free owing away of the steam from the container mouth and closure, it does not have time to lose its superheat while i't is in contact with the latter. Likelihood of such condensation is further reduced by the preheating of the cap and of the mouth of the container and the surface of the material therein as they travel along under the heatradiating wall portions I1 and I1'. What I claim is: l. In package sealing apparatus, a housing affording a tunnel-like passage, means for moving containers into and progressively through said passage, portions of said housing forming a steam distributor affording a chamber having a heat radiating wall overlying the path of the mouths of containers adjacent and rearwardly from the entrance of the housing, said steam distributor having an outlet opening at one side of the path ofv the containers 'adjacent the rearward portion of said heat radiating wall, and means for providing Ithe chamber with hot steam effective wall, said outlet perfrom the chamber :ing a tunnel-like passage leading to the cap-applying means, saidhousing including a steam chamber having a'wall overlying the path traveled by-the'containers from'the entrance end of said passage to the cap-applying means, a steam outlet from said chamber being provided to direct steam transversely below the rearward por vtion of said wall, and means for supplying steam to said chamber to heat said wall and issue through said outlet.

3. In package'seallng apparatus including a housing affording a tunnel-like passage cap-applying means disposed in said passage and means for moving containers progressively through said e and to said cap-applying means, a heatconducting plate forming a canopy overlying the path traveled by the containers fromv the entrance Yend of said passage to the cap-applying means, a steam conduit having an. opening arranged vto direct steam -transversely below the rearward portion of said plate, and means for supplying steam to said conduit and heat to said plate exteriorly of said passage.

4. Package sealing apparatus as specified in claim 3 and wherein the said rearward portion of said plate affords a greater clearance above Vthe mouths of the containers than does the forward portion of said plate.

5.- In packagesealing apparatus, a steam distributor affording a chamber and having a heat radiating wall, said distributor having an inlet for steam to said chamber and an outlet at one side of said heat radiating wall,vsaid outlet being arranged to direct steam -transversely below a portion of said heatradiatlng wall.

6..In package sealing apparatus, a steam distributor as' specified in claim 5 and including also means for effecting expansion of steam on its way from said chamber to'said outlet. I

'1. In package .sealing apparatus, a steam distributor having a lheat radiating wall and affording a chamber for confining steam under pressure, a steam inlet provided for said chamber, and a steam conduit having an outlet arranged to direct steam ktransversely below a portion of said heat radiating wall, said steam conduit having restrictedl communication withsaid chamber by way of which steam may be supplied to said conduit and its` outlet. from said chamber but at materially reduced pressure.

8. In package.saling apparatus, a? steam distributor having a bottom wall and affording a chamber forv confining steam under pressure, a steam inlet to said chamber being provided, a steam conduit vgeving an outlet arranged to discharge steamlina horizontal direction below a portion of said bottom wall, said conduit having 'an inlet for steam from said chamber, which latter inlet is oi materially smaller flow capacity than said outlet and said chamber inlet respectively,

for the purpose described. l, Y 1

9. In package sealing apparatus, the combination withmeans for moving containers progressively, of a heat radiating plate forming a canopy overlying the path traveledby the mouths of the containers, means for supplying heat to said plate, and means at one side now of steam below and clear across the sae.

' 10. In package seali 4 A apparatus having means of said plate for directing 'l for moving device having a lower wall overlying the path traveled by the mouths of the containers and an pressure in heat-transfer association with said.`

said upper wall affording and means lower and upper walls, a runway for closure caps, with said upper wall for movement along the same containers.

11. Package sealing apparatus as specified in claim 10 and wherein said upper wall slopes toward the bottom wall in the direction of the containers' movement, and including means for introducing steam below the lower-wall adjacent the lower end of the,upper wall.l

12. Package sealing apparatus asI specified in toward the path of the lclaim 10 and including a movable cover for housingclosure caps on said upper wall. y

13. In package sealing apparatus having closure applying means and meansfor moving containers progressively thereto, a plate overlying the path traveled by the mouths of the containers,

means for heating the plate, and means lfor emit- .i

ting and inducing a gentle flow of steam across and below said plate ahead of and adjacent the closure applying means. l

14. In the art of sealing containers, a method which comprises moving the container progressivel'y through a steam chest while keeping its open mouth continuously below a heat radiating surface, maintaining said surface at a temperature above the boiling point of water, flowing hot dry steam over and across the mouth of the container and across a closure cap in association therewith, applying the closure cap to the container in the flowing steam, and hermetically sealing theJ closure cap on the'container.

15. In the art of sealing containers, a method which comprises maintaining steam under pressure in heat-transferring association with a heat radiating surface, maintaining the open mouth of the container below and in proximity to said heat radiating surface, vwhile moving the conl tainer progressively through a distance materially greater than the diameter of thecontainer emitting some of the steam ina dry state at 'approximately atmospheric pressure at a loca-4 tion below said heat radiating` surface, directing the emitted steam transversely of the"di're6tion of movement of the container and in enveloping association with the mouth thereof, applying a,v

closure to the mouth of the container while it is enveloped in the flowing steam, and hermetically sealing the closure on the container.

16. In the art of sealing containers, a method -which'comprises moving the container progressively through a distance materially greater than the diameter of the container while keeping its open mouth continuously sheltered below a heat radiating surface, maintaining at a temperature above the boiling point of water, heating a closure cap while moving it toward the path of the container, flowing hot dry steam under said surface in a direction transversely of the direction of movement of the container and'in enveloping association with the mouth thereof, introducing the closure into the flowing steam and applying lt to the mouth of the container therein, and hermetically sealing theclosure on the container.

17. -In sealing apparatus, 'a steam distribitor comprising a casing having a steam inlet conduit therein and having a chamber for confining steam under pressure, and l a steam containers progressively. a-heating guiding closure caps in cntlet conduit having an expanding outlet diing an outlet to said chamber and having communication with said outlet conduit restricted to a ow capacity materially less than the ow capacity of said eipanding outlet.

18. In package sealing apparatus, the combination with a housing, of a steam distributor and partly outside thereof, said steam distributor having an internal chamber in which steam may be'maintained under pressure, the wall portions outside the housing having jacket chambers communicating with said internal chamber and the wall portions within the housing being connected by a bottom closure wall, said internal chamber being provided with an expanding out-' let for conducting steam therefrom to a location under said bottom wall, and an inlet for steam to theinternal chamber being provided.

lg, In package sealing apparatus, in combination, a steam chest affording a tunnel-like'passage, a conveyor for moving packing containers progressively into and through said passage, capsupportingmeans disposed'in said passage at a substantial distance from its entrance end, the roof of said passage between the entrance end and said cap-'supporting means being formed as a heat radiating wall overlying'the path of the mouths of the containers, said heat radiating wall constituting also a portion of a steamjchamber, and means for supplying steam to said steam chamber to heat said wall, said steam chamber being provided with an outlet disposed below said heat radiating wall and laterally of the path of -the containers for emitting steam into said tunnel-like passage.

; 20, In package sealing apparatus, in combination, a steam chest affording a tunnel-like passage, a conveyor for moving packing containers progressively into and through said passage, capsupporting means disposed in said passage at a substantial distance from its entrance end, said steam chestincluding a heat radiating roof portion extending between the entrance end of said passage and said cap-supporting-means and over-v lying the path lo! the mouths oi' the containers, said heat radiating roof portion constitutingalso a portion of asteam chamber, and means for supplying steam to-said steam chamber to heat said roof portionfsaid steam chamber being provided with an outlet opening below said heat radiating roo! portion and laterally of the path of the containers for emitting steam into said tunnel-like passage.

21. In package sealingjapparatus, in combination, a housing affording a tunnel-like passage, a conveyor for moving packing containers into and progressively through said passage, a cap-supporting device positioned in said passage j at a substantial distance from its entrance end, having wall portions partly vwithin the housing the roof of said passage for a substantialdistance inwardly from its entrance end comprising a heat radiating wall overlying the path of the containers, portions of said housing being associated with said heat vradiating wall to form a steam chamber over said passage, and means for supplying steam to said chamber to heat said wall; the arrangement being such that the mouth portions of the containers are subjected to heat radiated from said wall throughout a substantial proportion of their travel in the passage to the cap-supporting device. f

22. In package sealing apparatus, in combination, a housing affording a tunnel-like passage, a conveyorvfor moving packing containers into and progressively .through said passage, a cap-'supporting device positioned in said passage 'at a substantial distance from its entrance end, I

the roof of said passage between its entrance -end and said cap-applying device comprising ay nally of said passage; the arrangement being such that the mouth portions of' the containers are subjected to heat radiated from said wall throughout a substantial proportion of their travel in the passage to the cap-supporting device..

23. In 4package sealing apparatus, in combination, a housing affording a tunnel-like passage, a conveyor for moving packing containers into and progressively through said passage, a cap-supporting device positioned in said passage uat a substantial distance from its entrance end, the roof of said passage between its entrance end and said cap-applying device comprising a heat radiating wall vdisposed over the path of the mouths of the containers, vsaid heat radiating wall constitutinga portion of a steam `chamber disposed above said passage, and means for arranged to emitv steam in said passage laterally ot the path' of said containers.

LYNN E. bums. 

